In retrospect, Vancouver Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault, who hardly deserves the abuse he takes from a small segment of vindictive newspaper types with their hearts set on burying him, should have described Cory Schneider’s mysterious ailment as “a lower, lower body injury.”

You can’t get much lower on the human framework than the toes. At some point it seems Schneider took a shot or a stick or a simple stub that damaged a toe and as every goaltender in captivity will attest, it is assuredly one of the most painful areas known to masked mankind.

The toe theory is presented here as a suspected possibility. Neither Vigneault nor any of his compatriots is obligated to divulge the nature or whereabouts of Schneider’s pain, especially at playoff time. But the smart money would be on one of those 10 little footy things most sportswriters can’t reach.

HERE ‘N’ THERE: Warren Moon’s agent called with less than a week’s notice to say that Moon would not be able to attend Friday’s SFU Gathering of the Clan breakfast as originally planned. But the agent did provide a list of six other clients who would be available and Steve Lewarne, Director of Advancement Athletics at the University, didn’t hesitate to choose NFL single season rushing leader and 1999 Hall of Fame inductee Eric Dickerson. Lewarne should buy a lotto ticket. Dickerson was a smash hit at the sold-out gathering that raised $310,000 in scholarship funding. His walk through the crowd wearing a wireless headset to answer questions worked masterfully. Dickerson’s clear message from the podium was for young athletes to pursue a degree, something he still regrets not doing.

SHORT HOPS: Bad boy sportscaster Neil Macrae has the final say regarding his instant dismissal by management at Rock 101 last week. “I was planning on quitting but instead got a two-month settlement when they fired me,” Macrae says. “I want to thank them for helping me pay for some of my property taxes.” He and his wife Laurie head up The Rix Family Foundation that donates to charities and major universities across Canada.

END ZONE: B.C. Sports Hall of Fame curator Jason Beck received a tip that a bound copy of all 1954 issues of Sports Illustrated would be available at an Able Auctions sale last weekend. Beck lowballed a bid and to his surprise secured the original SI set, completing the Hall of Fame’s entire collection of 3,000 issues from 1954 to 2013. Board of Trustee past chair Colin Brown was delighted to discover that the Aug. 30, 1954 edition features a three-page spread on the CFL, introducing the “new Vancouver Lions” with pictures of head coach Annis Stukus and youngsters By Bailey and Arnie Weinmeister. Local sporting legends Tommy O’Bryan and Jim Taylor donated their Sports Illustrated collections that covered 1955 through 2013. With Beck’s successful treasure hunt, the mission is now complete.

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